Battle of Banu Nazir
The battle of Banu Nazir took place in 4 AH. The Holy Prophet (sa), accompanied by a small party of companions, went to the people of Banu Nazir. There are different narrations explaining why the Holy Prophet (sa) went to them. According to one narration, the Holy Prophet (sa) went to them to collect the blood money of two people who had been killed by the tribe of Banu Amir. Approximately 10 companions accompanied the Holy Prophet (sa), including Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), Hazrat Umar (ra) and Hazrat Ali (ra).
When the Holy Prophet (sa) arrived there and asked for the amount to be paid, the Jews said, “Yes, O Abu al-Qasim, first you should eat and then we will address the matter you have brought.”
At the time, the Holy Prophet (sa) was sitting against a wall. The Jews began to plot and conspire with one another, saying, “We will never get a better opportunity for killing this man [i.e. the Holy Prophet (sa)]. Who among us will climb to the top of this house and drop a heavy stone on him, so that we may get rid of him.” Upon this, Amr bin Jahash, a chieftain of the Jews, agreed to the plan and said, “I am ready for this task.” Following this, Salam bin Mishkam, who was another Jewish Chieftain, opposed the idea and said, “Under no circumstances should you carry out this act. By God, he (the Holy Prophet (sa)) will surely be informed of what you are plotting. This is an act of treason because we have made a treaty with them.”
When the man who was to drop the stone on the Holy Prophet (sa) reached the top [of the building], the Holy Prophet (sa) was divinely informed about this plot. Allah the Almighty informed him of what the Jews were planning to do. Right away, leaving his companions where they were seated, the Holy Prophet (sa) stood up and proceeded to depart, as though he had another engagement. Thereafter, he returned to Medina swiftly. After arriving in Medina, the Holy Prophet (sa) sent Hazrat Muhammad bin Maslamahra to Banu Nazir with a message stating, “Leave my city (i.e. Medina). You will not be permitted to live in my city. The plot you devised was an act of treason.”
The Holy Prophet (sa) gave the Jews a period of 10 days, but they refused and said they would never leave their homeland. On receiving this reply, the Muslims prepared for battle. When all the Muslims had gathered, the Holy Prophet (sa) departed to face Banu Nazir. The flag for this battle was held by Hazrat Ali (ra). The Holy Prophet (sa) besieged their forts, and no one came for their aid. Then the Holy Prophet (sa) mobilised his forces against Banu Nazir, and in the evening, he returned to his home with 10 companions.
According to one narration, during that time, the Holy Prophet (sa) assigned the command of the Muslim army to Hazrat Ali (ra), while according to another narration, this honour was given to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). On one end, the Holy Prophet (sa) carried out a strict siege, and on the other, Allah the Almighty caused the awe of the Muslims to settle in the hearts of the Jews. Finally, they requested the Holy Prophet (sa) to spare their lives and exile them with permission to take as much of their belongings as they could load onto their camels except for their weapons. The Holy Prophet (sa) accepted their request.
According to one narration, the Holy Prophet (sa) lay siege for 15 days, while some narrations differ in the number of days of this siege.
(‘Ali bin Burhan al-Din al-Halabi, Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 2, Bab Ghazwah Banu Nazir [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 2002], pp. 357-361)
With the permission of the Ansar, the Holy Prophet (sa) distributed all the spoils of war acquired in the battle of Banu Nazir amongst the Muhajirin. Upon this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) addressed the Ansar and said, “O company of Ansar, may Allah grant you the best reward.”
(Mustafa ‘Abd al-Wahid, Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad fi Sirat Khair al-‘Ibad, Vol. 4 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1993], p. 325)